JP2012520805A - Container and method of using the container - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage device (20) and a method of using the storage device (20) are disclosed. The mechanisms (20) of the present disclosure, including but not limited to food or beverage containers (20), can be implemented in a variety of ways. The receiving device (20) may comprise a lid (28) and a body (22).
[Selection] Figure 1a

Description

  This PCT patent application is a US provisional patent application filed on March 18, 2009, entitled “PRODUCT CONTAINER CUP WITH A OLD-DOWN HINGED LID” (No. 61 in a product container with a folding hinge lid). And US Patent Application No. 12 / 725,061) claiming the rights of US Patent Application, “CONTAINER APPARATUS AND METHOD THE FOR USING THE SAME” (No. 12 / 725,061) The contents of both applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

  The present invention relates generally to containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage device and a method for using the storage device.

  Many products cannot be stored, transported, sold and / or utilized without first being stored in certain containers. Certain products, such as many types of food products and virtually all beverage products, require a type of container to handle or consume the product. As the number of products offered to consumers and businesses continues to increase, the shape, size, structure, and number of containers are also evolving.

  A wide variety of different containers can be used to store a wide variety of different product types. The purpose of the product container may include preventing damage or expenditure of the contained product. A container can create a product, a user of the product, or an incidental asset or person. Product characteristics often affect the characteristics of the container used to store the product, and vice versa. For example, containers for beverage products generally need to be waterproof, but containers used to store office supplies need not be waterproof or fully sealed. Similarly, containers suitable for use in the context of sterilized medical supplies have different characteristics than containers used to store coins or golf tees.

  Different containers may have different potential users of different skill levels, and therefore the proper usage of the container can vary widely depending on whether the intended user of the container is a consumer. For example, beverage containers used in fast food restaurants need to be suitable for use by a wide range of people, including individual consumers or persons with disabilities and individuals with sub-average physical and mental abilities . In contrast, containers used by locksmiths or mechanics to store tools may use more complex designs and operating procedures.

  Containers also vary greatly in terms of the expected period of service. Many containers are disposed of after a single use. For example, a cup of ice cream sold at a grocery store or pharmacy is intended to be discarded after its contents have been consumed by the consumer. In contrast, a thermos can be emptied and packed repeatedly for several years.

  Many consumer products are sold in disposable containers that are not biodegradable or have negative environmental impacts. Many consumer product containers end up being annoying and environmentally harmful waste. For example, the Pacific Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as Pacific Trash Vortex, is made of highly concentrated plastic and other debris collected from the currents of the North Pacific. Regardless of whether the Pacific Garbage Belt is now as large as Texas, there is no doubt that this area is large and the damage to this area is enormous. In addition, there are four other large places in the world's oceans that collect debris that is floating in the wind. Plastic containers, such as water bottles, plastic lids for paper cups, and single-use containers for other consumer products, take hundreds of years to disassemble, whether in landfills or waters, Can cause enormous damage to ecosystems. Billions of plastic bottles return to the US landfill every year. When these bottles are placed side by side, plastic bottles that surround the equator several hundred times, or return several times a month, are disposed of each year. Old practices do not go away easily, and it is difficult to change the behavior of both business and consumers regarding disposable containers. There are many coffee shops in the United States, selling millions of cups of coffee annually in paper cups or foamed styrene cups with plastic lids.

  A superior container used to store products including but not limited to disposable container situations is desirable.

  The present invention relates generally to containers. More specifically, the present invention is a storage device and method of use thereof.

  The container includes a plate that connects the lid of the container to the body of the container. The container lid, plate, and body can be implemented in a wide variety of different structures to properly store many different products. The container can be made of various types of different materials including but not limited to paper or paperboard.

The following drawings illustrate different examples of various embodiments of the apparatus.
FIG. 1 a is a perspective view showing an example of a completely closed container. FIG. 1 b is a perspective view showing an example of a container that is completely closed except for an open opening. FIG. 1c is a perspective view showing an example of a container that is partially open and partially closed. FIG. 1d is a perspective view showing an example of a fully opened container. FIG. 2a is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for closing a container. FIG. 2b is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for closing a container. FIG. 2c is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for closing a container. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the upper surface of the container. FIG. 4 a is a diagram illustrating an example of the bottom surface of the container. FIG. 4 b shows an example of the bottom surface of the container. FIG. 5 a is a diagram illustrating an example of a side surface of a container. FIG. 5 b is a diagram showing an example of a side surface of the container. FIG. 5c shows an example of a side view of a closed container with a horizontal score line that functions as a locking channel in the lid channel that secures the lid in the closed position. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a front view of a container and examples of tabs at various positions. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rear view of the container. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a skid that facilitates stacking closed containers in the vertical direction. FIG. 9a is a diagram showing an example in which opened containers are stacked in the vertical direction. FIG. 9b is a diagram showing an example in which opened containers are stacked in the vertical direction.

  The present invention relates generally to containers. More specifically, the present invention is a container (“container”) and method of using the container.

I. Overview The containment device ("container") can be incorporated into a variety of different shapes, sizes, and structures. Different embodiments of the container can be utilized to store, transport and / or use a variety of different products. Using containers, in groceries, beverages, money, office supplies, electronics, tools, chemicals, cleaning detergents, fabric softeners, and virtually any other kind of solid, liquid, or in certain situations Can also store gaseous products.

  Different embodiments of the container can be composed of a variety of different materials. For example, in the context of a container used as a cup, the cup may be constructed of paper, paperboard, stainless steel, metal, ceramic, plastic, or other types of materials. Polymer coating, high barrier polymer coating (including but not limited to high carrier silver coating), polyethylene coating (including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate coating), bio (including but not limited to polylactic acid polymer) bio Different types of coatings can be utilized for the container, such as polymer coatings, biodegradable polyesters, and other types of coatings.

  Containers provide an excellent opportunity for businesses and other institutions to easily communicate information. In many cases, containers have text, graphics, and other displays that convey brand identity, product information, marketing information, or public service announcements. Because it is very easy and cheap to incorporate small electronic components into a container, some containers use a technique similar to that used to sound when opening a greeting card. Can be configured to provide communication. The container can also be configured to flash light or generate a visual display utilizing electronic components that provide power. For example, a coffee cup container can be configured to play music, flash light, and / or generate other reactions by opening and closing the lid.

  In accordance with the provisions of patent law, the principles and modes of operation of the container have been described and illustrated in various embodiments and structures. However, it is to be understood that the containers of the present invention can be implemented in other ways than those specifically described and illustrated without departing from the concept or scope thereof.

II. Overview of Elements and Definitions FIG. 1 a is a perspective view showing an example of a container 20 in a fully closed and sealed state. The container 20 shown in FIG. 1a is a cup that can be machined from and / or to a piece of paperboard. Different embodiments of the container 20 may involve different types of products, different material components, and different manufacturing processes. Each embodiment of the container 20 includes a container body (“body” 22) and a lid 28. The body 22 and lid 28 can be incorporated into a variety of different shapes and sizes. All other components in the various drawings are optional and need not necessarily be included in all embodiments of the container 20. Most embodiments of the container 20 further include the plate 24 connected to both the lid 28 and the body 22 with one end of the plate 24 connected to the lid 28 and the other end of the plate connected to the body 22. It has. In some embodiments, the lid 28 and further plate 24 may be configured to be removable from the container 20, such as by a perforated edge to a paperboard material that can be manually removed. In other embodiments, the body 22, lid 28, and plate 24 are integral with each other and are not configured to be separated from each other.

A. Main Body The main body 22 of the container 20 usually constitutes most of the surface area of the container 22. The body 22 of the container 20 typically also defines the shape, size and outer shape of the container 20. For example, in FIG. 1, the container 20 is a substantially cylindrical coffee cup. The shape of the container 20 results from a substantially cylindrical body 22. The body 22 of the container 20 can have various score lines to enhance the structural strength and integrity of the container 20. Unlike the other components of the container 20, the body 22 is not designed to be movable or configurable by the user of the container 20. In other words, the main body 22 of the container 20 remains the same regardless of the use state or configuration of the container 20. In contrast, the lid 28, plate 24, and their respective components can be moved and configured by the user of the container 20.

  The bottom of the body 22 typically serves as the base of the container 20 with the lid 28 placed in a higher vertical position than most or all of the body 22, depending on the particular embodiment of the container 22. In FIG. 1a, the top of the tab 30 (extending from and part of the lid 28) is the top of the container 20 in the conventional orientation of the container 20 when the container 20 is in a fully closed use configuration / condition. It represents the highest point in the vertical direction. Conversely, the lowest part in the vertical direction of the container 20 shown in FIG. 1 is the bottom surface 40 of the main body 22, and the container 20 is positioned on the bottom surface 40 when placed on a flat surface such as a table.

  The body 22 of the container 20 can itself be disassembled into various components and components.

1. Cavity 46 Cavity 46 (which may also be referred to as chamber 46) is an empty space within body 22 of container 20 that is used to store the product. For example, in the situation of a coffee cup container 20, the cavity 46 is a space inside the body 22 for containing coffee. In FIG. 1 a, the outer surface 42 of the main body 22 blocks the field of view of the cavity 46 inside the main body, so that the cavity 46 is drawn with a dotted line. In many embodiments of the container 20, the cavity 46 is substantially the same shape as the appearance of the body 22. However, in alternative embodiments, different shapes and structures may be incorporated, particularly if the container 20 requires structural reinforcement to maintain the integrity of the body 22. In such a case, the reinforcing structure is disposed in the main body 22 and can change the shape inside, that is, the shape of the cavity 46.

  Some embodiments of the container 20 may have a plurality of cavities 46 that separate two or more products in the container 20. Such embodiments may include internal structures that allow the contents to be mixed or permanently separated as required. For example, the container 20 can be configured to hold two different separate beverages with the cavity 46 divided into two separate containment areas.

2. Outer Periphery As shown in FIG. 1 a, the outer perimeter 34 may represent the highest point of the body 22 in the vertical direction. The outer peripheral portion 34 is usually a reinforced outer surface at the top of the main body 22. Although some embodiments of the container 20 do not have a perimeter 34, the perimeter 34 is often useful for enhancing and reinforcing the structural integrity of the container 20. The outer periphery 34 can further assist the user using the container 20. For example, in the situation of a cup container 20 used to contain a beverage, the outer periphery 34 can prevent a drinker from spilling and help make the coffee cup container easier to use. This outer periphery 34 can also insulate drinkers from particularly hot or cold drinks.

  In the view of FIG. 1 a, the outer perimeter 34 is at the upper portion 36 of the body 22 and is higher in the vertical direction than the lid 28 when the lid 28 is in a fully closed configuration / state. The upper portion 36 of the body 22 often has various score lines that are vertical, horizontal, or a combination thereof.

  In some embodiments of the container 20, the outer periphery 34 covers the entire portion of the body 22 that is not covered by the plate 24 or flap 54. In other embodiments of the container 20, the area of the outer periphery 34 is not full, and in certain embodiments, the portion 36 of the body 22 closest to the flap 54 is folded inward to enhance the function provided by the flap 54. be able to. In order to maximize the flexibility of the plate 24 and / or the flap 54, it is often desirable not to cover at least a few millimeters of the upper portion 36 with the outer periphery 34.

  In many embodiments of the container 20 having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical body 22, the outer periphery 34 forms an arc of about 299 degrees to about 180 degrees. In many embodiments of the container 20 having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical body 22, the lid 28 forms approximately 180 to 299 degrees of a circle.

3. The surface main body 22 is composed of both an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is the surface of the main body facing outward from the container 20. The inner surface is the surface of the body 22 that faces inward to the body 22, usually the cavity 46 or another inner surface.

  In FIG. 1 a, one outer surface 42 of the main body 22 is a part of the main body 22 and has a substantially cylindrical shape extending from the bottom to the top of the main body 22. The corresponding inner surface 44, shown in dotted lines, because it is not visible from the outside of the container 20, is also cylindrical and extends from the bottom of the container 20 to the top. A portion 36 of the body 22 extending upward from the closed lid has both an outer surface and an inner surface.

  The upwardly extending portion 36 of the body 22 that is vertically higher than the closed lid 28 may be referred to as the vertical protrusion 36 of the body 22. The outer peripheral portion 34 is located on the vertical protrusion 36.

  The bottom of the body 22 has both an inner surface (facing upward to the cavity 46) and an outer surface (facing downward to the surface on which the container 20 is placed). The outermost surface at the bottom of the main body 22 is referred to as a bottom surface 40. The innermost surface of the bottom of the body 22 (also considered the outermost “surface” of the bottom 46 of the cavity 46) is referred to as the floor 48. Since the cavity 46 is not visible from the outside of the container 20, the floor surface 48 of the cavity is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1a. A variety of different designs can be incorporated into the bottom surface 40 of the container. Two different examples are provided in FIGS. 4a and 4b, which are described below.

4). Scoreline Returning to FIG. 1 a, the body 22 of the container 20 can comprise a variety of different scorelines for increasing the strength of the body 22 or for other purposes. The lid 28 and plate 24 components may also have score lines. In the situation of the plate 24 or the lid 28, the score line can be used to facilitate the function of moving specific components of the user and to move the container 20 from one use state to another. In the situation of the main body 22, the purpose of the score line is to prevent movement or deformation.

  The score line may be vertical or horizontal. The score line may be wholly or only partly. For example, a completely horizontal score line may extend around the entire circumference of the cylindrical body 22. In contrast, the partially horizontal score line is limited to extend only beneath part of plate 24, only through part of body 22, which is plate 24 and flap 54, perimeter 34, or other component or component. Sometimes it is done. Horizontal score lines 56 (which may also be referred to as folds 56 or connectors 56) are often used to connect the plate 24 to the body 22. The boundary between the flap 54 and the body 22 can be marked by a connector 56 or fold 56, but different score lines may be used. Since the connector 56 between the plate 24 and the body 22 is often important to assist in the function of supporting the movement of the lid 28 of the plate 24, the score line that functions as the connector 56 between the plate 24 and the body 22 In parallel, it is often useful to have a horizontal score line on the body 22 of the container 20.

  Some embodiments of the container 20 include a horizontal score line 52 (which may also be referred to as a lid groove 52 or lid channel securing groove 52) to successfully secure the position of the lid 28 in the closed configuration / state. You can also. FIG. 5 c provides an example of the shape of the lid groove 52 that can be incorporated into the container 20. Different shapes of the lid groove 52 and score line may be incorporated into different embodiments of the container 20.

  The vertical score line may likewise be completely (extending from top to bottom) or just partial. As shown in FIG. 1a, the vertical score line 38 of the body 22 extends upwardly and extends to the plate 24 to secure the structural integrity of the plate 24 and the lid 28 of the plate 24 in a closed position. The function to assist can be strengthened. Some embodiments of the container 20 may have complete vertical score lines that are evenly spaced throughout the portion of the body 22 covered by the outer periphery 34.

B. Plate and flap plate 24 is the surface area of container 20 configured to support the operation of lid 28. The plate 24 can also have an outer surface and an inner surface, as the body 22 has an outwardly facing outer surface and an inwardly facing inner surface. Similarly, the plate 24 can also have vertical and horizontal score lines, and the boundaries of the plate 24 are usually marked by the score lines. The plate 24 may have a vertical score line and a horizontal score line. Plate 24, and flap 54 (if any), collectively function as a hinge mechanism that allows lid 28 to open and close.

  In many embodiments, the two flaps 54 are positioned horizontally close to the plate 24, with one flap 54 on each side of the plate.

  The plate 24 and the two flaps 54 illustrated in FIG. 1 a also help the strength and tightness of the container 20 while facilitating the function of opening and closing the user's lid 28. When the lid 28 cannot be fixed in the closed position, the use configuration / state may be inadvertently changed from the closed state to the open state, and thus the usability of the container 20 is impaired. It is. For example, in the context of a beverage container 20, a container 20 that cannot be closed or sealed in a watertight state is used only for limited applications.

  The embodiment of the container 20 having the plate 24 allows the lid 28 to be opened and closed without changing the structure of the lid 28. By not changing the structure of the lid 28, the structural integrity of the lid 28 and the function of the closed lid 28 to seal the contents of the cavity 46 are enhanced. Operation of lid 28 is facilitated by plate 24 in combination with plate 24 or flap 54. Various score lines are typically used to indicate the boundaries between the plate 24 and the flap 54. The score line 26 between the plate 24 and the lid 28 can be referred to as a hinge 26. However, whatever plate 24 and / or flap 54 structure is utilized for a particular container 20, the overall effect of the plate 24 and flap 54 structure is to function as a hinge.

  As described above, different embodiments of the container 20 can use different types of scorelines with different characteristics at different locations.

1. Flap Flap 54 is a surface that is horizontally adjacent to plate 24 but is separated from plate 28 by a vertical or nearly vertical score line. The boundaries of the flaps 54 are often distinguished by vertical and horizontal score lines. As described above, one or more flaps 54 can be used to support and enhance the function of the plate 24 functioning as a hinge for the lid 28. Some embodiments of the flap 54 may be configured to be further bent or pushed by the user to further secure the lid 28 in the closed position. Bending or pushing in this manner may leave the container 20 undesired for later use and refilling.

  Embodiments of the container 20 that use the plate 24 do not necessarily have a flap 54, but it is often desirable to combine the plate 24 with one flap 54 on each side.

2. Anti-Slip Device Some embodiments of the plate 24 have one or more anti-slip devices 58 to allow the user to easily stack the containers 20 on top of each other when the lid 28 is closed. Yes. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a container 20 having two anti-skid devices 58 configured to support a stack 90 of closed containers 20.

3. Scoreline Returning to FIG. 1a, a scoreline can be utilized to represent the plate 24 from other components. The connector 56 as described above is used to connect the main body 22 to the plate 24. A hinge score line 26 (which may also be referred to as a hinge 26) can be used as a boundary line between the lid 28 and the plate 24. In many embodiments of the container 20, the relative movement of the lid 28 relative to the plate 24 is generally much greater than the relative movement of the plate 24 relative to the body 22, so that the hinge 26 is configured to be easier to operate than the connector 56. Has been. The purpose of the plate 24 is to isolate the body 22 from the amount of movement required by the lid 28.

C. Lid The lid 28 is a means for closing the container 20 and sealing it in some cases (such as a waterproof container). In some embodiments, the groove 52 in the body 22 helps to secure the lid 28 when the lid 28 is moved to a closed / sealed position. Although the position of the lid 28 determines that the container 20 is in a closed / configuration or open / configuration, changes in the position of the lid 32 are not achieved by making structural changes to the lid 32. Conversely, the plate 24 functions as a hinge that can move the lid 28 (possibly in conjunction with a flap 54). In the example of FIG. 1 a, the lid 28 moves by rotating around the hinge 26.

  In many embodiments of the container 20, the lid 28 is substantially circular in shape and need not be very thick. In many embodiments of the container 20, the lid 28 is substantially parallel to the surface on which the container 20 rests when the lid is in a closed use configuration / condition.

  The lid 28 may be in an open position, a closed position, or in some cases in a partially open / partially closed position. In many embodiments of the container 20, the lid 28 is integral with the plate 24, and the plate 24 is integral with the body 22. The lid 28 can be made of the same material as the plate 24 and the main body 22.

1. Tabs Some embodiments of the lid 28 may have a tab 30 that serves as a handle for opening and closing the lid 28. Different embodiments of tab 30 may have a different number of score lines. In many embodiments, the number of score lines on the tab 30 depends on whether the tab 30 is used to seal the opening 32 of the lid 28. As shown in FIG. 1 a, the tab 30 has a score line 48 at the base of the tab 30 and a score line at a portion 50 of the tab 30 that transitions mainly from the horizontal direction to the main vertical direction. Thereby, the tab 30 can seal and close the opening 32 and can easily open and close the lid 28. In many embodiments of the beverage container 20, an additional third tab scoreline 60 (see FIG. 3) can be used to facilitate the user's ability to push the tab 30 down into the opening 32, thereby The tab 30 does not disturb the user's comfort when drinking the beverage in the container 20.

  Returning to FIG. 1 a, the tab 30 is secured to the lid 28 at the tab bottom 48. The position of the tab bottom 48 may depend on whether the lid 28 has an opening 32 or not. If the lid 28 has an opening 32, the tab bottom 48 is typically the innermost edge of the opening 32. If the lid 28 does not have the opening 32, the tab bottom 48 is typically located proximate to the outermost edge of the front of the lid 28.

  The container 20 shown in FIG. 1 a includes both a tab 30 and an opening 32. The shape of the tab 30 may vary greatly, but the tip of the tab 30 should function to facilitate user movement, and the shape of the lower portion of the tab 30 generally depends on the shape of the opening 32.

2. Opening Some embodiments of the lid 28 have an opening 32 for selectively exposing the contents of the container 20. For example, in the case of a beverage container, the user drinks the contents of the container 20 through the opening 32 (using a straw or simply tilting the container close to the open mouth) with the lid 28 in the closed position. It becomes possible. The opening 32 can be closed / sealed using a tab 30. Since the opening 32 is not visible, the opening 32 in FIG. 1a is illustrated by a dotted line. The opening 32 in FIG. 1 a is closed and sealed by the tab 30. The bottom of the tab 30 of FIG. 1a from the tab bottom 48 to the fold 50 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the container 20, and the top of the tab 30 projects straight up into the air that can be gripped most easily. ing.

  The shape of the opening 32 that closes the opening 32 and the shape of the portion of the tab 30 may be greatly different for each embodiment. Some embodiments of the container 20 may have one or more openings 32. For example, some embodiments of the beverage container 20 may have more than one opening 32 for inserting a straw.

  A further view of the operation of the tab 30 and the opening 32 covered by the tab 30 can be seen in FIGS. 1b and 6.

D. Additional Components / Components Different embodiments of the container 20 may have various additional components / components. As described above, different score line configurations may be incorporated into the container 20. In some embodiments, a tearback adhesive can be placed on the lid 28 to facilitate pulling the lid 28 open. The structure and shape of the lid channel securing groove 52 may be varied to provide additional reinforcement, such as an annulus. For example, additional structural components can be added to prevent the lid 28 from moving from a particular closed position.

  In some embodiments, the container 20 can be further reinforced by utilizing a vertical body seam extending from the bottom of the body 22 to the outermost portion of the lid 28 and the location of the tab 30. In some embodiments, the vertical body seam can have side tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the container 20.

  For embodiments involving food storage, the flap 54 may have an aqueous cold seal adhesive. Increases the ability of container 20 to meet standard 276.170 FDA compliance so that the pressure of the user's finger forms an adhesive state and is suitable for direct contact with watery and fatty foods.

III. Use Configuration / State / Position Depending on the product the container 20 is designed to store, the container 20 can be configured in various states or arrangements. For example, in the case of a beverage container 20, the container 20 may be in a completely closed and sealed position to minimize the ability of the beverage to leak from the container. An example of a completely closed and sealed configuration is illustrated in FIG. 1 a, where the lid 30 is closed and the opening 32 is also sealed by the tab 30, the tab 30 facilitates the function of closing the opening 32. You can have various score lines designed to

  FIG. 1 b illustrates an example in which the lid 28 is completely closed but the opening 32 is not blocked by the tab 30, which allows ingestion of the beverage but limits the ability to spill the beverage. . As shown in the drawings, the tab 30 is straight to a vertical or nearly vertical position when the opening 32 is not sealed. As described below with respect to FIG. 3, some embodiments of the tab have an additional score line 60 designed to facilitate pushing the tab 30 into the opening 32, thereby providing a tab 30. Does not interfere with the ingestion of the beverage through the opening 32. The transition from FIG. 1 a to FIG. 1 b can occur simply by movement of the tab 30.

  FIG. 1 c illustrates an example of a partially open lid 28. Since the plate 24 is fixed, the position of the plate 24 in FIG. 1c is the same as the position of the plate 28 in FIGS. 1b and 1a, but the lid 28 is not in the closed position. In many situations, filling or refilling of the beverage container 20 is performed with the container 20 in the configuration of FIG. 1c. In some situations, the user can drink from the container 20 during the state illustrated in FIG. The transition from FIG. 1b to FIG. 1c involves the movement of the lid 28 but not the movement of the plate 24.

  FIG. 1d illustrates an example of the container 20 in a fully opened state. The illustrated configuration may be highly desirable for stacking empty containers 20 on top of each other. The illustrated configuration is also desirable for filling or refilling the container 20, and in some cases may be desirable for consuming the contents of the container 20, such as attempting to discard the remaining portion of the milkshake from the cup. The transition from FIG. 1c to FIG. 1d involves moving the plate 24 mainly from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

  Different embodiments of the container 20 may include a variety of different locations, conditions, and usage configurations.

IV. Manufacturing Methods Many paperboard embodiments of the container 20 can be processed from pre-printed, pre-punctured blanks or optionally pre-printed roll stock. The semi-finished product can be precisely placed and tightly wrapped around the folding mandrel. Some cup container 20 embodiment designs include wrapping the body 22 around the bottom of the cup that has been pierced and removed before sealing the side wall, or optionally inserting the bottom of the cup after sealing the side wall. Enable. The side seam and the bottom seam are sealed by using a frame, hot air or ultrasonic waves. Sealing parameters related to temperature, pressure and alignment are important in the forming process. The cup profile may be designed to easily move between multiple turret processes located on the machine that forms the cup. The partially finished cup can be transferred to an upper rounded turret that incorporates multiple steps to form an upper rounded perimeter 34, ie, lubricate, pre-roll, round to finish, and calibrate.

V. Methods of Use Different containers 20 may have different components and different steps for opening and closing the container 20.

A. Example 1
FIG. 2 a is a flowchart showing an example of a method for closing the container 20. At 100, the plate 24 is moved to a position when the container 20 is closed. An example of step 100 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1d to the configuration shown in FIG. 1c.

  Returning to FIG. 2a, at 102, the lid 28 is moved to the position of the lid 28 when the container 20 is closed. An example of step 102 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1c to the configuration shown in FIG. 1b.

  Returning to FIG. 2 a, at 104, the opening 32 is closed by the tab 30. An example of step 104 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1b to the configuration shown in FIG. 1a.

  The filling or filling of the container 20 may be performed in any state as described above.

  The closing / sealing process ends after closing the opening 32.

B. Example 2
FIG. 2 b is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for closing the container 20. At 110, the plate 24 is secured in a position where the plate 24 is when the container 20 is closed. This generally involves the user depressing the plate 24 and rotating the position of the plate 24 along the boundary 56 between the body 22 and the plate 24. An example of step 110 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1d to the configuration shown in FIG. 1c. It is often desirable to refill or fill the container 20 before performing this step.

  Returning to FIG. 2 b, the lid 28 is closed at 112. This is done by depressing the lid 28 and rotating the lid 28 around a hinge 26 that marks the boundary between the lid 28 and the plate 24. An example of 112 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1c to the configuration shown in FIG. 1b.

  Returning to FIG. 2b, at 114, the opening 32 is closed and sealed with the tab 30 depressed. Alternative embodiments may have an additional mechanism for sealing the opening 32. An example of step 114 is a transition from the configuration shown in FIG. 1b to the configuration shown in FIG. 1a.

  The close / seal process ends with the sealing of the opening 32 at 114.

C. Example 3
FIG. 2 c is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for refilling and closing the container 20.
At 120, the cavity 46 of the container 20 is refilled or filled with an applicable product. This step is generally performed with the container 20 fully open.

  At 122, the user grabs the tab 30.

  At 124, the user depresses the tab to move the plate 24 to the closed position, moves the lid 28 to the closed position, and closes the opening 32 at the bottom of the tab 30. This can be done with one user action.

  These processes end with the container 20 completely closed and sealed.

VI. Further diagrams A. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top view of the container 20. In this container 20 example, the tab 30 has three score lines (48, 60, and 50) to facilitate the user's ability to push the tab 30 into the opening 32, thereby allowing the tab 30 to be Does not enter the mouth of the person or does not interfere with the intake of beverages.

  The illustration of FIG. 3 further includes two anti-skid devices 58 for easy stacking of closed containers 20 as shown in FIG.

B. Bottom View FIG. 4 a shows an example of a bottom view of the container 20. FIG. 4 b is a diagram illustrating another example of the bottom view of the container 20. Each figure shows the bottom surface 40 as well as the bottom outer surface 48 of the cavity 46. As shown, different bottom 40 structures can be incorporated into different embodiments of the container 20. The type of material used to construct the container 20 and the type of contents assumed to be stored in the container 20 can affect the proper design of the bottom of the container 20.

C. Side View FIG. 5 a shows an example of a side view of the container 20. The container 20 of FIG. 5a is similar to the container 20 of FIG. 1d, but in a use / configuration from a different perspective. In this position, the portions of the outermost tab 30, lid 28, and plate 28 of the container 20 form a generally vertical line portion extending upwardly from the outer surface 42 of the body 22.

  The lid 28 is substantially flat when closed, but when the lid 28 is in a fully upright position, the curvature of the container 20 is substantially invisible, as in the line portion of the side view of the container 20.

  However, as shown in FIG. 5b, when the lid 28 is moved closer to the closed position, the side view of the lid 28 becomes more than two-dimensional.

  FIG. 5c shows an example of a side view of the inner body surface with the lid channel securing groove 52 securing the lid 28 in the closed position. Different geometric shapes can be incorporated into the groove 52. Additional structures can be added to prevent the lid 28 from moving beyond the optimal closed position.

D. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a front view of the container 20. The figure further shows that the container 20 is closed and sealed (FIG. 1a), closed and not sealed (FIG. 1b), the lid is open, the plate is fixed (FIG. 1c), and fully open. The different positions of the tab 30 are shown when transitioning to the closed state (FIG. 1d).

E. Rear View FIG. 7 is an example of a rear view of the container 20. The container 20 of FIG. 7 is in a fully closed and sealed position.

F. Stacked Container FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the anti-slip tool 58 for easily stacking the closed containers 20 in the vertical direction. The number of closed containers 20 that can be incorporated into the stack 90 depends on a variety of factors including the design of the container 20, the structural strength of the container 20, and the contents of the container 20 (if any).

  FIG. 9a is a diagram showing an example in which opened containers 20 are stacked in the vertical direction. The stack 94 of open containers 20 may generally include more containers 20 than the stack 90 of closed containers 20.

  FIG. 9b shows an example of a stack 94 of open containers 20 from different perspectives.

VII. Alternative Embodiments The container can be incorporated into a variety of different embodiments, structures, and situations. In accordance with the provisions of patent law, the principles and modes of operation of the present invention are illustrated and illustrated in various embodiments and structures. However, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated without departing from its concept or scope. The container and method of use of the container can be incorporated into a variety of different components, component structures, and component assemblies.

Claims (19)

A body (22);
A plate (24), wherein the body (22) is adjacent to the plate (24), the plate (24) having a hinge (26);
A container (20) comprising a lid (28), wherein the lid (28) is adjacent to the hinge (26) and the hinge (26) from the open position to the closed position; A container characterized by enabling the operation of (28). The container (20) of claim 1, wherein the body (22), the plate (24), and the lid (28) are integral with each other;
The body (22), the plate (24), and the lid (28) are constructed of substantially the same degradable material;
Said body (22) is substantially cylindrical;
The top surface of the lid (28) is substantially circular and substantially flat;
The interior of the container (20) is watertight;
Container, characterized in that the plate (24) is substantially flat with the hinge (26) extending along the edge of the plate (24).   The container (20) according to claim 1, wherein the lid (28) has an opening (32) and a movable tab (30), the tab (30) for closing the opening (32). A container characterized by providing.   The container (20) according to claim 3, wherein an upper rim (34) extends upward from the body (22), the uppermost part of the upper rim (34) being higher than the lid (28). When the container (20) is in the closed position and the opening (32) is blocked by the movable tab (30), the uppermost portion of the movable tab (30) is the upper rim (34). A container characterized by being higher than the top of the container.   The container (20) of claim 1 further comprises a plurality of scorelines, the plurality of scorelines including a main scoreline (56) and the hinge (26), wherein the plate (24) is the main scoreline. A container attached to the body (22) along a score line (56).   The container (20) according to claim 6, wherein the container (20) further comprises a plurality of flaps (54) extending upwardly from the body (22), wherein the plurality of flaps (54) Adjacent to the plate (24), the plurality of flaps (54) includes a first flap and a second flap, the plurality of flaps (54) being substantially perpendicular to the plate (24). A container characterized by being.   8. The container (20) of claim 7, wherein the plurality of score lines includes a plurality of flap score lines adjacent to the plurality of flaps (54), wherein the plurality of flap score lines are a plurality of vertical. A container comprising a flexible flap score line and a plurality of horizontal flap score lines.   The container (20) according to claim 1, further comprising a rim (34) secured to the top of the body (22), the rim (34) being thicker than the body (22), (34) is a container characterized by forming an arc shape of about 180 degrees to about 299 degrees around an opening in the upper part of the main body (22).   The container (20) according to claim 9, wherein the rim (34) covers the entire top surface of the body (22), the rim (34) extending upward from the body (22). A container not being attached to the top of the plurality of flaps (54).   The container (20) according to claim 1, wherein the body (22) has a groove (52) and the lid (28) is in the groove (52) when the lid (28) is in a closed position. The container (20) further comprises a support ridge projecting inwardly from the body (22) at a position proximate to a lowermost portion of the groove (52).   The container (20) of claim 1, wherein the container (20) further comprises a tearback adhesive disposed on an upper surface of the lid (28).   A container (20) according to claim 1, wherein the container (20) further comprises a support seam attached to the body (22), the plate (24), and the lid (28). Container.   14. A container (20) according to claim 13, wherein the container (20) further comprises a side tab (30) attached to the support seam and the lid (28).   The container (20) of claim 1, wherein the container (20) further comprises a plurality of anti-skid tools (58) attached to the top of the plate (24).   The container (20) according to claim 1, wherein the lid (28) and the plate (24) are relative to the bottom surface of the body (22) when the lid (28) is in a fully closed position. A container characterized by being parallel.   17. A container (20) according to claim 16, wherein the lid (28) has an opening (32) and a tab (30) and the opening (28) is in the closed position. (32) is blocked by the tab (30), and the opening (32) is not blocked by the tab (30) when the lid (28) is in a closed position. . A container (20) comprising a body (22), a plate (24), a lid (28), and a plurality of flaps (54) adjacent to said plate (24);
The body (22) has a rim (34), a plurality of vertical score lines, and a plurality of horizontal score lines, at least one of the horizontal score lines (52) closing the lid (28). Adapted to be fixed in place;
The plate (24) has a hinge (26) and a connector (56), the hinge (26) is attached to the lid (28), and the connector (56) is attached to the body (22). There;
The lid (28) has an opening (32) and a tab (30) adapted to seal the opening (32).   19. A container (20) according to claim 18, wherein the body (22) is integral with the plate (24), and the plate (24) is integral with the flap (54) and the lid (28). A container characterized by being. In the method of using the container (20):
Loading (120) the cavity (46) in the container (20);
Grabbing a tab (30) connected to a lid (28) of the container (20);
The tab (30) is pushed down to seal the opening (32) of the lid (28), and the lid (28) is rotationally moved into the groove (52), thereby the lid (28) of the container (20). And flattening (124) the plate (24) connected to both the body (22).

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